Salvador Dalí is famous for his surrealist paintings and sculptures but did you know he also designed some incredible jewellery? In Figueres, as well as visiting the Dalí Theatre-Museum to see the largest collection of his work, you can also visit the Dalí Jewels Collection.
Figueres is bound to feature on any Salvador Dalí fan’s itinerary of Catalonia in Spain. Even if you’re not a big fan, there’s no denying that he knew how to make an impact. This is especially the case of his famous surrealist paintings and sculptures. Lesser known, however, is the artist’s eye for jewellery making… After thoroughly enjoying the theatre of Dalí’s Theatre-Museum, I made my way to the Dali Jewels (Dali-Joies) Collection to check out his jewels.
Dalí’s jewels
The Dalí Jewels Collection has a separate entrance to the Theatre-Museum and looks at the jewels Dalí created. It’s perhaps because of this that not as many people seem to venture into it. So, whilst the main museum was busy, I had Dalí’s jewels all to myself. If you get the chance to go, make sure you do!
The exhibition showcases jewellery Dalí designed between 1941 and 1970. It features some of his initial drawings as well as around 40 completed pieces. And they are breathtaking! Here’s a sneak peek at a few of them…
Honeycomb Heart 
Eye of Time
Tree of Life 
The Space Elephant
The exhibition is small and provides background information in English as well as Spanish. It includes Dalís own thoughts on his jewels, which he said were created to “please the eye, uplift the spirit, stir the imagination and express convictions”.
I loved the jewels based on human features particularly. And here’s one of my favourites (along with the Ruby Lips pictured at the top)… the breathing Royal Heart.
The Royal Heart by Dalí measures around 13 cm x 7 cm and is made in 18 carat gold. Gems featured in it include rubies, sapphires, emeralds, diamonds and pearls.
Take home a Dalí souvenir
Figueres is definitely the place to go looking for Dalí souvenirs. The streets around the museum are full of souvenir shops. Both the Theatre-Museum and Dalí Joies have a gift shop too. I rather liked the espresso cups with a moustache and red lips. You can also enjoy your very own Dalí sparkle as you can buy replicas of some of the jewels he designed. The ruby lips with pearly teeth broach will set you back €140.
For those of you with a much smaller budget, you could buy Spain’s (and the world’s) favourite lollipop as the Chupa Chup lollipop wrapper was designed by Dalí too!
Figueres highlights
Figueres is one of the top day trips you can do from Girona or Barcelona. Aside from the Dalí Theatre-Museum and Jewels Collection, other highlights include the hilltop castle of Sant Ferran and the bustling and colourful market as well.
Hungry for more Dalí? Take a Dalí triangle roadtrip
It’s not just Dalí’s hometown where you can enjoy the man and his work. The Gala-Salvador Foundation that runs the Theatre-Museum and Dali Jewels also run two other museums in the Costa Brava region. There is his summer retreat in the beautiful white washed seaside town of Cadaques and the Gala-Dalí castle in Púbol. The castle was the home Dalí bought for Gala and where Dalí moved to after her death for a short period before moving back to Figueres, which is where he died. The tomb where his remains lie are beneath the stage in the Theatre-Museum.
Although you could just about cover all three places in a day (it would be a long day!), I’d recommend spreading your Dalí love around so you can make the most of the towns too. For instance, Cadaqués is a beautiful beachside town and the surrounding region also beautiful to explore.
For more information visit: www.salvador-dali.org.
Visiting the Dalí Jewels Collection
Dali-Joies Corner between Mª Àngels Vayreda Street and Pujada del Castell Street
E-17600 Figueres
www.salvador-dali.org/museus/joies
Opening hours: as with the Dali-Theatre Museum, the opening times change depending on the season. You can view them and find out more about visiting here. Both the collection and museum are also closed on certain Mondays throughout the year (usually outside of the busier holiday seasons).
Standard admission is €7 if you just want to see Dalí’s jewels. But you can only buy this type of ticket at the museum’s ticket office. Otherwise, admission is included in the price of a Theatre-Museum ticket (€14), which you can buy online as well as at the museum’s ticket office.
Car parking and public transport
The town is well sign posted along the A9 or A2/N-II (bear in mind the A9 is a toll road). It’s about 40 minutes drive north of Girona and an hour and a half’s drive from Barcelona. There are a couple of fee-paying car parks close to the museum for your Spain car hire.
If you’re arriving by bus or train, the museum is less than 15 minutes walk away from both the train station and bus station. You can find more information on travel to Figueres at www.salvador-dali.org.